Top breast cancer awareness tattoos

Kori Ellis is an editor and writer based in San Antonio, TX, where she lives with her husband and four children. At SheKnows, she writes about parenting, fashion, beauty and other lifestyle topics. Additionally, Kori has been published i...

Pink ribbon tattoos

In support of breast cancer awareness and in memory of those who have lost their battles, many women choose to get tattoos depicting the universal symbol of breast cancer awareness -- the pink ribbon.

Breast cancer by the numbers

According to the latest estimate from the American Cancer Society, about 226,870 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in 2012. Additionally, approximately 63,300 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is noninvasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).

Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. It's also the second leading cause of cancer death in women, only exceeded by lung cancer. It's estimated that about one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime.

A single ribbon

Everyone knows what the pink ribbon stands for — you don't need to say much more. Therefore, many women choose to get a tattoo of a single ribbon to promote breast cancer awareness. Sometimes it's on the ankle, other times on a shoulder and, every so often, even behind an ear.